A dynamic partnership between St Deiniol’s Library in Hawarden and the St Mary’s College Trust, Bangor, launches a new centre on 1 August 2008 to promote research and development designed to enhance quality in religious education throughout Wales.

The St Mary’s Centre, located at St Deiniol’s Library, will concentrate on fully bilingual research, curriculum development, and the provision of resources.

The new centre will support the Welsh language schools’ assembly website in association with SPCK.

It will develop a new bilingual magazine to resource RE at primary and secondary levels.

The Directors of the new centre are Professor Leslie Francis and Tania ap Siôn.

Commending the new centre, Gavin Craigen, Chair of the Wales Association of SACREs, said:

St Deiniol’s Library, Hawarden, provides an ideal context where RE teachers and RE professionals can engage in research and development which contribute to the provision of quality religious education throughout Wales.

Speaking on behalf of the St Mary’s College Trust, Dean Alun Hawkins said:

I’m so excited that the excellent work of the old St Mary’s College is being celebrated in this new future.

Canon Tegid Roberts said:

The new centre is thoroughly committed to supporting the curriculum Cymreig with fully bilingual provision.

Notes for Editors

St Deiniol’s Library is a long-established academic institution, thoroughly committed to the language and culture of Wales, and internationally recognised as a residential centre of excellence for the promotion of research and scholarship in theological and religious education.

Tania ap Siôn brings to the post experience of classroom teaching and initial education and training and continuing professional development of RE teachers. She has published widely on research in religious education. Her work in curriculum development includes the newly-launched series on religion in Wales, Word Faiths Today Series, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Professor Leslie Francis, formerly Director of WNCRE, is currently Professor of Religions and Education in the University of Warwick and Canon Theologian at Bangor Cathedral. He is a Trustee of the Inter-European Commission on Church and School and a Trustee of the International Seminar for Religious Education and Values.

For further information contact:

The Revd Peter Francis:  01244 532350; peter.francis@st-deiniols.org

Professor Leslie J Francis: 07855 986277; Leslie.Francis@warwick.ac.uk